The Milwaukee Bucks were well represented at the NBA’s Awards Gala Monday night in New York City.
Malcolm Brogdon was named the NBA’s rookie of the year after earlier in the day became a unanimous pick on the league’s All-Rookie Team. The second round pick from the University of Virginia made an immediate impact on the Bucks, averaging 10.2 points per game, 4.2 assists and 2.8 rebounds a contest.
Brogdon becomes only the second Bucks player to earn Rookie of the Year, joining Kareem Abdul Jabbar. He’s also the first second round pick to earn the honor since the NBA’s common draft and he’s the first non-lottery pick to win in 30 years.
Giannis Antetokoumnpo was given the award for the league’s Most Improved Player. He was an Eastern Conference starter in the All-Star game and his skills as a 6-11 point guard became apparent leading the Bucks to a 42-40 record and a return to the NBA playoffs. The “Greek Freak” was also selected to the NBA’s All Defensive second team.
The other major award winners Monday night were Draymond Green of Golden State, selected as the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year. The Coach of the Year award went to Mike D’Antoni of the Houston Rockets and the league’s Most Valuable Player was Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook. He broke the NBA record with 42 triple-doubles during the season and joined Oscar Robertson as the only players in league history to average double figures in points, rebounds and assists.
